Greenock Telegraph | Sport | I won't shirk my duties

Friday, 21st November, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 14th October, 2008 12:30

I won't shirk my duties

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MORTON boss Davie Irons left Victoria Park with the insults still ringing in his ears.

The full-time whistle prompted chants of ‘Time to go’ from the travelling support.

But Irons, who understands the supporters’ anger, is determined he will not walk away from the task in hand.

Reflecting on the post-match barracking, he said: “I don’t think in any wark of life anyone wants to get criticised in public and I’m not any different.

“But I’m not daft, the reaction from the fans is part and parcel of football. People pay their money and are entitled to their opinion, but I am not deliberately trying to upset people.

“I try not to take the abuse personally, they don’t know me personally, only as the manager.

“I have to accept when the team is not performing, I carry the can for that.

“I don’t set out with the intention of a bad performance just as the players don’t set out to play poorly. We are in it as a team, the manager and the players.

“It is a hard time for the club. Whether I am still in the job or not, well I’m not going to walk away from the responsibilities. It is a difficult time, but it is still very early on in the season.”

The debris from the Dingwall double header reads: two games lost; one red card; one goal scored and seven goals conceded.

So far this season the cup competitions have provided welcome relief for the Ton, but Sunday’s Alba challenge cup semi-final failure laid bare the plethora of problems Irons must resolve.

While Alan McManus’ sending off effectively ended any hopes of a comeback, County always looked in control, an alarming fact when set in a league context.

Irons added: “I have been taken aback by the last two performances. The Dunfermline game was really positive and we were unlucky no to win. I know people get fed up hearing about hard luck, but it’s true.

“The two games against Ross County, to come out with nothing and have two poor performances is so disappointing. You put your trust in players, you hope they have taken on board what they need to do. I am not shirking on my responsibility, but there is not much you can do at times with the mistakes we’ve made. They have been our big downfall.

“Before Sunday, I asked them what they had learned from last week and we talked about how crucial the first five, 10 minutes are. Then we go and lose one after 10 minutes. It is hard to fathom.

“I’m very disappointed and upset by the performance.”

The players returned to training today and Irons, who feels just four players are turning in the requisite level of consistency, must look to pick up the pieces and prepare for the visit of Clyde to Cappielow.

A pre-match conversation with chairman Douglas Rae on Sunday was not followed by any kiss-of-death announcement post-match.

But with the supporters anger mounting, the Morton manager is urging the fans to understand the bigger picture.

He added: “I didn’t speak to him [the chairman] after the game.

“He will have his own thoughts, I am quite sure of that.

“All he wants is the best for the club as do I. When you come to do the job you hope to get the backing and the time to do that.”

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